DDR vs Working vs Showline - Page 1

I do not know much about GS except that they are at least to me,  the best of our best friends.  At least if bred right.

What I want to know is, what are the differences?  I mean I was told DDRs are more the old style GS and have

stronger bloodlines.  Now I need to know stronger in what way if any.  Which is best for a family.  Which is easier to train.

Which is not so hard headed.  I am looking for a female GS so I want to get all the info I can.

Thanks

uh, oh.... here we go. Lets not turn this into a WHO is better yelling match guys.

DaWolf, I wish you the best with your search, and above all obedience training, and love is the key to ANY GSD you decide on.

I think most working line lovers would agree its an injustice a high drive dog to expect it to sit around the house as a pet.  When people ask me about a GSD for a family pet, I suggest a lower drive showline dog.  There are exceptions to every rule. I keep showlines because I like the look and personality of a *good* showline dogs, but I have seen plenty of fantastic working line dogs that could come live with me anytime.

As far as trainability, I think that is just as dependent on the manner in which the puppy is raised, the individual personality, and the skill of the handler just as much as it is the genetics of the dog. I have seen dogs that would jump through a flaming hoop for you and dogs that will flip you the bird from all bloodlines.

Rugers Guru I don't think this is meant to be a "who is better" kind of thread. Just someone seeking information

exactly. But I have seen threads like this go south fast.

true

The showlines have less drive so make better all around house dogs. Working lines usually have too much drive to make a good pet unless you give it a job to do.  If not they will tear your house up looking for something to "play with".  The DDR dogs can go either way depending on their individual lines, but are usually somewhere in the middle. Hope this helps!

There are high prey drive showlines, and low prey drive working lines.  You can't depend upon the stereotype of show being medium and low drive, and workingline high drive...you need to test them a bit in person, or ask the breeder to do it to establish what level the drives are at going-home-time.  Most working line litters I had in the past...before Athos...were normally 50% high prey drive-50% medium prey drive.  Athos, however, has changed those numbers to the high drive side.

Veronica

Some DDR/Czech dogs can be rather independent-minded and strong willed, too (hard to explain). Can be a challenge to train. Yes, higher drive, too. Need experienced handler for stronger-working line breedings. DDR dogs are noted for bigger head/sizing, too.
And yes, WGR show line dogs are potentially pricey, depending on what bloodlines you get. Nice pigmented dogs, milder in temperament.
All need proper early socializing, interaction and training to maximize their potential.
And, all have their place and purpose in society-one is not necessarily better than the other. It's merely a matter of personal opinion.

 I wonder how Max Von Stephanitz would have answered that question?  Kind of seems like asking a guy born on the Mason Dixon Line from a mother on the south side, and father on the North side of the line, if he is a confederate or a Yank don't you think?  The German Shepherd Dog is supposed to have all the best qualities developed from years of selective breeding, bred into it; to enable it to do the best job at what ever it is called apon to do. 

If it is ask to show, it should be the model of the breed, if it is ask to herd, it should have the aptitude to learn herding, and if it is ask to protect, it should have the courage to do that.  Above all it needs to have a solid structure free from bone joint problems and congenital faults, and all the best of the other elements bred into it to be the best sample of the breed it can be. 

Who wants a show dog that tucks its tail and looks beautiful running to hide, or a working dog that looks like it was bred to a rooster?  When are people going to remember  what it was that MaxVon Stephanitz started out to do with this breed, and stop trying to decide if it is a Yank or a Confederate? If you choose to breed, do the best job you can at breeding out the faults, and doubling up on the good points, if that means mixing DDR with Show line and working dogs, then so be it, but do the home work first. If you don't have time for that, then leave the breeding to those who do care.  Just my two cents worth, sorry.